Providence, R.I.—Graduate guard Sophia Guerrier (Waltham, Mass.) finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals as No. 3 Rhode Island College fell, 61-55, vs. No. 19 Washington and Lee in the sectional semifinals of the 2024 NCAA Div. III Women's Basketball Championship at The Murray Center on Friday evening.
 
THE BASICS
No. 19 Washington and Lee 61, No. 3 Rhode Island College 55
Washington and Lee (29-2)
Rhode Island College (29-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Generals were led by a legendary performance by sophomore forward Mary Schleusner (Charlotte, N.C.), who shot 14-for-20 from the floor and totaled 34 points, 33 rebounds, five blocks and three steals. Her 33 boards breaks the NCAA Div. III Championship record she set earlier in the tournament (29) for single-game rebounds.
 
• Schleusner scored all 12 of Washington and Lee's points in the first quarter as the visitors built a 12-9 advantage after the opening 10 minutes.
 
• A three-pointer by RIC fifth-year guard Olivia Middleton (Barrington, R.I.) pulled the hosts within two points, 24-22, with 4:28 left in the second quarter, and fifth-year forward Izabelle Booth (Newport, R.I.) tied the game, 24-24, with a jumper at 2:45.
 
• Schleusner put W&L ahead by a pair and senior guard Hanna Malik (Raleigh, N.C.) canned a three-pointer with under a minute left in the first half to give the Generals at 29-24 lead at the midway point.
 
• RIC pulled within three, 31-28, three minutes into the second half, but once again, a Schleusner jumper and a Malik three-ball pushed the visitors advantage to three possessions. Sophomore forward Sarah Zimmerman (Cincinnati, Ohio) sank a jumper to end the third quarter with the visitors ahead by 12, 45-33.
 
• The Anchorwomen were down by eight, 56-48, with 53 seconds remaining, but a Middleton jumper, and after two free throw misses by W&L, Booth banked in a desperation three-pointer with 28 seconds left to make it a one possession, 56-53, contest.
 
• Middleton once again capitalized on Generals' missed free throws to give RIC a chance by converting a layup with 17 seconds left as RIC pulled within three, 58-55.
 
• After two missed free throws, the Anchorwomen's game-tying three-point attempt was off the mark and Zimmerman sank three free throws in the final three seconds to send Washington and Lee to the Elite 8.
 
• The Generals will face Wartburg, which beat Bates, 54-53, on a last second shot earlier in the evening at RIC, on Saturday, March 8 (7:30 p.m.), with the winner advancing to the NCAA Div. III Women's Basketball Championship Final Four.
 
• Junior forward Angelina Nardolillo (Hinsdale, N.H.) finished with 15 points. Fifth-year guard Jeniyah Jones (Randolph, Mass.) racked up a team-best 11 rebounds and five steals.
 
• The loss snaps the club's program-record 29-game winning streak and was the first setback for the club at The Murray Center in 26 games.